Was Guru Nanak a Good Father?

JustCurious · #37 (**permalink**) 06-Apr-2010, 13:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roab1

I can understand that you do not understand how Guru Nanak remained away from his household and not leave his family in distress, if you did you wouldnt be here asking it in first place. While the original poster who asked this question probably asked in another vein but you have taken it in another direction. Your aim is to make Guru Nanak look a runaway from his moral and family obligations and prove him to be a hypocrite. But that will not be the case.

I will answer your question now.

1. Guru Nanak was born in a very rich household. So that cuts off his need to work to feed his family. Unlike founders of some other faiths who were not only utterly poor but also illiterate, Guru Nanaks father was a very rich man. There is still a very large tract of agriculture land still standing in the Gurus name in Pakistan, gifted by contemporary king. It is another matter he or his family never cared for it. This proves his family wouldnt have needed the Guru to be present for providing food, shelter or money. There was enough in the house. Moreover the family of Guru Nanaks wife was also very rich. She would have had enough money on her own without having to depend upon Guru Nanak.

2. The sons of Guru Nanak were never angry with their father. They had proper freedom of choice. This fact is proven that Guru Nanak never forced his sons to follow proper Sikhi. His elder son founded a sub sect of Sikhism on his own. His younger son was found of pleasures of life and carried on with wordly life. Guru Nanak was a great advocate of married family life, but his elder son remained unmarried and celibate throughout his life, another example of freedom given to Guru Nanaks children. When Guru Nanak came back from one of his travels, Sri Chand wrote 'aarta' describing how he saw Guru Nanak. Read it and you will know what kind of relationship Guru Nanak had with his sons and the world.

3.About Mata Sulakhani, wife of Guru, why do you assume what you assume. The first five teachings of Sikhism are controlling

1. Kaam
2. Krodh
3. Lobh
4. Moh
5. Ahankaar

You still think she had any needs? She was above wordly needs or desires. She was one with God. She was greater than any prophets you would know. Wife of Guru Nanak was not ordinary human.

If you know then you would know Guru Nanak was with her every moment. Only your human brain cannot comprehend it, hence useless and childish questions. Come up with something worthwhile. BTW Sikhs dont follow Gurus example, we follow our Gurus word and hukam.

Maybe if he was there for his sons they wouldn't have turned out the way they did, and would have been proud Sikhi followers. Also are you now claiming that Guru Nanak's wife was also somehow divine and so did not require the physical and emotional love and attention she would have presumably as a human craved from her husband?

Also why did Guru Nanak get married at all if he knew he was sent from God and was to undertake a mission gallivanting around India for 28 years?

dalbirk · #38 (**permalink**) 06-Apr-2010, 17:39 PM

Just Curious Ji ,
The things which you state about Guru Nanak Dev Ji are in no way in clash with the Religion he founded .
1. Guru Nanak Dev Ji DID marry & bore two sons , he lived a life of house holder not an ascetic .
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-gurus/24028-was-guru-nanak-a-good-father.html
2. He went to travel whole of the world to preach his faith when he saw the whole world burning in mindless religious bigotry , irrational practices , hating each other due to some false notions of differences .
Bhai Gurdass Ji the great Sikh scholar who helped Fifth Guru Arjan Dev Ji in compiling & editing Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji , whose Vaars are declared by none other than Guru Arjan Dev Ji himself as the KEY TO GURBANI describes the arrival of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Vaar1 Pauri 23 as:
Vaaran Bhai Gurdas:- Vaar1-Pauri23--:SearchGurbani.com

Vaar 1 Pauri 23 Coming of the Guru
ਸੁਣੀ ਪੁਕਾਰਿ ਦਾਤਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗ ਮਾਹਿ ਪਠਾਇਆ ।
sunee pukaari daataar prabhu guru naanak jag maahi patdaaiaa|
The benefactor Lord listened to the cries (of humanity) and sent Guru Nanak to this world.
Line 1
ਚਰਨ ਧੋਇ ਰਹਰਾਸਿ ਕਰਿ ਚਰਣਾਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਿਖਾਂ ਪੀਲਾਇਆ ।
charan dhoi raharaasi kari charanaamritu sikhaan peelaaiaa|
He washed His feet, eulogised God and got his Disciples drink the ambrosia of his feet.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24028
Line 2
ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਕਲਿਜੁਗਿ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਇਕੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ।
paarabrahamu pooran brahamu kalijugi andari iku dikhaaiaa|
He preached in this darkage (kaliyug) that, saragun (Brahm) and nirgun (Parbrahm) are the same and identical.
Line 3
ਚਾਰੇ ਪੈਰ ਧਰਮ ਦੇ ਚਾਰਿ ਵਰਨਿ ਇਕੁ ਵਰਨੁ ਕਰਾਇਆ ।
chaaray pair dharam day chaari varani iku varanu karaaiaa|
Dharma was now established on its four feet and all the four castes (through fraternal feeling) were converted into one caste (of humanity).
Line 4
ਰਾਣਾ ਰੰਕੁ ਬਰਾਬਰੀ ਪੈਰੀ ਪਾਵਣਾ ਜਗਿ ਵਰਤਾਇਆ ।
raanaa ranku baraabaree pairee paavanaa jagi varataaiaa|
Equating the poor with the prince, he spread the etiquette of humbly touching the feet.
Line 5
ਉਲਟਾ ਖੇਲੁ ਪਿਰੰਮ ਦਾ ਪੈਰਾ ਉਪਰਿ ਸੀਸੁ ਨਿਵਾਇਆ ।
ulataa khaylu piranm daa pairaa upari seesu nivaaiaa|
Inverse is the game of the beloved; he got the egotist high heads bowed to feet.
Line 6
ਕਲਿਜੁਗੁ ਬਾਬੇ ਤਾਰਿਆ ਸਤਿਨਾਮੁ ਪੜ੍ਹਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ ।
kalijugu baabay taariaa satinaamu parhhi mantr sunaaiaa|
Baba Nanak rescued this dark age (kaliyug) and recited ‘satinam’ mantr for one and all.
Line 7
ਕਲਿ ਤਾਰਣਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਆਇਆ ॥੨੩॥
kali taarani guru naanaku aaiaa ॥23॥
Guru Nanak came to redeem the kaliyug.
I request you Just Curious ji to go through whole of Vaar 1 which will take only perhaps forty five minutes to have some clarity on the purpose of Guru Nanak Dev ji's life & whole of background regarding the origins of SIKH FAITH rather than listening to somebody's half-baked LOGIC or one-sided statements . Sikhism is very very unlike any of the previous philosophies this earth has known in last 3500 years .

Tejwant Singh · #39 (**permalink**) 06-Apr-2010, 21:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustCurious

I see you presume I am a Muslim and hence the volley of insults hurled towards me! Once again you make your hatred of Islam (in particular) and other religions in general clear! If I had said I was a Christian/Jew/Hindu etc I wonder what insults I could have expected to receive.

For the last time I have come here asking you questions about your faith, not to share mine. Why is that such an obstacle for you? Why can you only answer my questions once you know my faith? Can it be to hurl insults as you already have done at what you preceive to be my faith of Islam which it might or might be but in any case is irrelevant?

Just Curious ji,

Guru Fateh.

From your post above, it shows that you misspoke about being a truth seeker because what you said above is all false. I did not hurl any insults at Muslims. I told the facts.

I do not understand a person like you who refuses to share the goodness of her/his own faith. Why this insecurity and cowardice is really bewildering. Why would she/he hide her/himself from the core values that have been instilled in her/him.

In this forum we talk about all religions and faiths quite openly. Please check the interfaith forum for that.

Thanks & regards

Tejwant Singh

roab1 · #40 (**permalink**) 06-Apr-2010, 21:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustCurious

Maybe if he was there for his sons they wouldn't have turned out the way they did, and would have been proud Sikhi followers. Also are you now claiming that Guru Nanak's wife was also somehow divine and so did not require the physical and emotional love and attention she would have presumably as a human craved from her husband?

Also why did Guru Nanak get married at all if he knew he was sent from God and was to undertake a mission gallivanting around India for 28 years?

You make it seem as if the sons of Guru Nanak were not worthy, shall i call you awefully presumptive or haughty judgemental all knowing typo ! Sri Chand is one of the most respected figures of Sikhism. The other son did very well regarding wordly life, but had nothing to do with growth of Sikhi as he wasnt a religious leader. Both were Sikhs. Sri Chand was Divine. The younger was ordinary Sikh.

Do you think Wife of Guru Nanak was not divine? I request that you reveal your faith/religious belief so that we may know how women are viewed in your religion. So far you are dodging the question, as if you are ashamed of your religion.

Your question about Guru Nanak being married and spreading Gods message seems to come from your belief that
1. A Man cannot find God while being married.
2. Women are sex objects and not equal.
3. Women are weak.
4. A Man and Women can never overcome their sexual desires.

Be a Man and reveal your faith, dont be a coward.

Astroboy · #41 (**permalink**) 07-Apr-2010, 02:18 AM

Guru Nanak was a good father because he never scolded his children.
He taught them only the true purpose of their earthly mission.
He evaded the entrapment of a family life which leads one nowhere.
He disapproved the greed to earn lots of money by means of trickery as encouraged by his father, Mehta Kalu.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24028
He gave away his earnings to the poor and needy and considered such an act as a good investment.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24028

How many children would wish they had a father like Guru Nanak?

Sinister · #42 (**permalink**) 07-Apr-2010, 02:31 AM

a good father is someone who teaches, plays a role model and trys to advise his children to do good things in life...
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24028
to say that guru nanak did not do this with his children is impractical and very hard to believe.

JustCurious · #43 (**permalink**) 07-Apr-2010, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by namjap

Guru Nanak was a good father because he never scolded his children.
He taught them only the true purpose of their earthly mission.
He evaded the entrapment of a family life which leads one nowhere.
He disapproved the greed to earn lots of money by means of trickery as encouraged by his father, Mehta Kalu.
He gave away his earnings to the poor and needy and considered such an act as a good investment.

How many children would wish they had a father like Guru Nanak?

I am surprised how you think Guru Nanak could have taught his kids anything of any value if he was off gallivanting around India for 28 years, which surely would have been throughout his kids' formative years! According to Wikipedia's page on Sri Chand (Guru Nanak's oldest son) he was raised by Guru Nanak's sister.

If he taught his kids so well & taught them the only true purpose of their earthly mission than why is it that one of his sons formed a sub sect of Sikhism known as the Udasis opposing his father's teachings? They are celibate and, either nude or while wearing a yellow robe, carry around a begging bowl to receive food or donations (begging is forbidden among orthodox Sikhs).

I am not sure there are many children who would honestly say that they would prefer to have an absent father who was away for 28 years to one who took an active role in their formative years.

roab1 · #44 (**permalink**) 07-Apr-2010, 03:46 AM

Did you read 'aarta' of Sri Chand? Do you understand the basic teachings of Sikhism with regard to five vices? Why are you obsessed with a need of father being around during formative years? A lot of children in west grow up without fathers and do real brilliant. Who guides them? Ask your mother does she trust if your father, if you have one, to stay away from you and her and the follwing four things will not happen
1. Your father will find a mistress or start visitng prostitutes
2. Your mother will find a new boyfriend
3. You will turn a druggie
4. Your sister will run away from home.

How rich is your family? I know it is a personal question but it is essential to know why you need a father always around especially during formative years. Is your mother educated? Is she able to take care of you in your fathers absence? Do you have caring and rich extended family like fathers or mothers siblings?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24028
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24028

You still have not admitted your faith. Did you learn that in Quran?

Tejwant Singh · #45 (**permalink**) 07-Apr-2010, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustCurious

I am surprised how you think Guru Nanak could have taught his kids anything of any value if he was off gallivanting around India for 28 years, which surely would have been throughout his kids' formative years! According to Wikipedia's page on Sri Chand (Guru Nanak's oldest son) he was raised by Guru Nanak's sister.

If he taught his kids so well & taught them the only true purpose of their earthly mission than why is it that one of his sons formed a sub sect of Sikhism known as the Udasis opposing his father's teachings? They are celibate and, either nude or while wearing a yellow robe, carry around a begging bowl to receive food or donations (begging is forbidden among orthodox Sikhs).

I am not sure there are many children who would honestly say that they would prefer to have an absent father who was away for 28 years to one who took an active role in their formative years.

Just Curious ji,

Guru Fateh.

Once again lots of presumptions and assumptions laced with falsehood which is a shame. You have no evidence to prove your claim as has been the case for most of your claims.

Guru Nanak brought pragmatism to the world. You should read about it. As mentioned before, make knowledge your best friend not your worst enemy.

You have shown how insecure and feeble you are mentally and is fearful of sharing your own faith with others. Your babbling above shows nothing but your ignorance of the subject which is unfortunate.

Tejwant Singh